The Nightmare on Causeway Street

Hallelujah – I’m writing something that’s NOT about Arber Xhekaj! Because, and I’ll stress this again, we ARE NOT a Habs Blog! I feel better. Ref? Killer? Do you guys feel better? I feel better. And on we go…

My current favorite Boston Bruins player is none other than Trent Frederic, and he had a heck of a game last night in New Jersey. After a scoreless first period, Trent got the Bruins on the board around the halfway point of the second period. Hampus Lindholm makes a heck of a nice drop pass here, and Freddy absolutely labels one top drawer.

Off topic, but it doesn’t get better than Kenny Albert, with Edzo and Jonesy at ice level, from an announce team perspective. All three get the game, and as we’ll talk about in a second, seem to really enjoy fighting.

Anyhow, Frederic has a really good shot, and he cashes in on plays like this a lot. What makes him such a valuable asset, is he can also drive the net and create some havoc in the paint for opposing goaltenders. While he does that, he’s usually bound to be chirping someone.

Before the second period goal, Freddy tried to jumpstart the team with a scrap in the first, but not a major dustup. It just seemed like a good time for a fight, and he found a willing participant in New Jersey’s Kevin Bahl. Frederic’s style is to lull his opponents to sleep, then drop the hammer on them. He throws a lot of good straight rights, and mixes in his uppercut well.

It’s not quite Lyndon Byers-level uppercut, but he really likes to use it, and it is effective. In this scrap he also throws a couple that don’t land. I like Bahl’s strategy here as well. He lands some nice rights of his own, and they tire each other out. If I’m being honest, I’ll call it a draw, but if I’m a homer, I give the nod to the Nightmare. By the way, I saw someone else call Trent Frederic the Nightmare on Causeway St., and I’m fully stealing it.

So, why are we just getting around to the Trent Frederic experience now? Well, former Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy had Freddy firmly in the doghouse. I’m not sure why Butch didn’t like him and refused to play him. Yeah, he can take some stupid penalties, but I think that was a byproduct of him getting limited ice under the Cassidy regime. When he did get a shift, he would try to do too much and often took a dumb penalty trying to make a difference. Now that Cassidy has taken his stupid face and Supercuts hairdo to Vegas, new Bruins coach Jim Montgomery has allowed Freddy to be Freddy, and it’s paying off in a big way.

In 60 games last year, he had 8G, 10A, for 18pints, and 57 PIM. Thus far in this campaign, he has 7 goals to go with another 7 Assists for 14 points and 27 PIM. Barring a catastrophic injury, he will shatter those numbers this season. The guy has a great motor, chirps everyone, can chip in on the offense, and drops the gloves with anyone willing to fight.

I’m very interested to see if Tom Wilson of the Capitals will give Freddy a shot in February when they come to Boston. Last year, Freddy was goading Wilson all game, and in typical fake tough guy Tom Wilson fashion he only obliged him at the end of Frederic’s shift. I’m pretty sure Wilson is coming back soon, but knowing him, he will have some excuse why he won’t fight The Nightmare. Either way, keep up the good work, Freddy. The Goonblog boys are pulling for you!